Taraz

Taraz is one of the largest tourist centres of Kazakhstan with population of 310,000 people. The town's past as the 6th century Silk Road settlement of Taraz was discovered by archaeologists in 1938. In the 11th century it was a capital of the Karakhanid State, which also ruled Bukhara for a while. In 1220 Taraz was conquered by the hordes of Genghis-Khan and was razed to the ground. At the end of the 18th century near the ruins of old city it rose again under the name Aulie-Ata ("holy aged man") as a northern frontier fort of the Kokand khanate. Its first settlers were Uzbeks, those who came from Namangan. In 1864 the city was occupied by Russian forces.

In 1938 the town was renamed to Dzhambul after the name of the Kazakh poet Dzhambul Dzhabayev. In 1997 the old name - Taraz was given back to the town. On the territory of Dzhambul province there are more than 450 archaeological monuments.
Here one can meet the sites of primitive man of the period of paleolith and late Stone Age, monuments of the Bronze Age (numerous burial mounds, rock paintings), dozens of ruins of medieval towns and fortifications.

Taraz achieved its violent growth in the 10-12th centuries, the testimony of which is the forked network of water pipes made of clay, remains of architectural structures, pavements and paved streets, numerous handmade items of skilful masters, which were found during excavations. The town's bathhouse is referred to that time. The bathhouse had inside fresco murals.
Two mausoleums reminding about ancient Taraz have been preserved in the town, both reconstructed in 20th century.

Karakhan Mausoleum was built in the 11th century above the grave of one of the rulers of Karakhanids’ dynasty. It presents portal-and-dome brick structure.

Dauitbek Mausoleum (13th century) - was built above the grave of one of the viceroys of Mongol Khans who had been killed in 1262. It is said to have been built lopsided in revenge for the man's infamous cruelty.
There are two memorials located 18 km from Taraz which present particular interest for the tourists. They are situated not far from each other.

Babadzha-hatun Mausoleum was built in the 11th century, and it has the marquee dome of unique construction.

Aisha-Bibi Mausoleum (12th century) is the only in Kazakhstan memorial, entirely faced with carved terracotta with the richest ornamentation with 60 kinds of patterns, cornices and styled inscriptions. Capitals and columns from terracotta blocks are covered as the entire wall with the thinnest paintings, which present the richest composition of motives of folk ornament. On one of the corner towers of mausoleum there preserved the inscriptions: “Autumn... Clouds... The Earth is beautiful”